Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Sioux Falls, S.D. --- Minnesota State continued conference play with a pair of wins 7-3 (8 Innings) and 6-1, against Sioux Falls Wednesday evening in Sioux Falls, S.D., extending the teams current win streak to nine games.

With the results, the Mavericks move to 31-17 on the season and 16-10 in conference play while the Cougars move to 23-24, 13-13 in the NSIC. 

Game 1

Mackenzie Ward (16-11) started the game for Minnesota State and earned the win while allowing three runs on four hits and striking out ten batters.  Kerrigan Hoshaw (9-9) started for the Beavers and took the loss pitching three innings and allowing six runs on nine hits.

The Mavericks wasted no time getting on the board when an errant pick off attempt on a Kayla Moky steal advanced McKenzie Paap home.  The Cougars were able to take the lead back with a two-run homer in the second and a solo shot in the fourth. 

With two out in the top of the seventh, Julia Bastian drilled a two-run homerun over the left field fence to tie the game.  Minnesota State kept Sioux Falls off the board in the bottom of the inning, forcing extras.

The Mavericks seized the opportunity in the eighth inning when Amber Kral doubled in Moky before Hailey Forshee brought home Kral with a single.  Bastian then earned a bases loaded walk before Paap did the same, giving Minnesota State the 7-3 lead that would be held onto for the win. 

Moky finished the day 2-4 from the plate with a walk and run scored to go with a stolen base and Bastian finished 1-3 with three RBI. 

Game 2

Lexi Schoper (9-3) started the game for Minnesota State and held the Cougars to one run on six hits while striking out three batters in 5.1 innings of work.  Ward took over for the final one and two-thirds innings striking out a batter and allowing a hit.  Sydney Nieveen (5-5) pitched five innings for Sioux Falls allowing four runs on 10 hits, while taking the loss.

The Mavericks once again struck early when Cori Kennedy brought Paap home with a sacrifice fly in the first.  Later in the inning, Kral reached on an error which scored Moky.  In the second inning Moky brought home Kennedy Rieck with a single to right field, extending the Minnesota State lead to 3-0. 

Kral would go on to bring home Moky with a single up the middle before the Cougars got a run in the sixth inning.  The Mavericks tacked on a pair of runs in the seventh when Hannah Hastings crushed a double that scored Torey Richards and Kennedy,

Moky finished game two 3-4 with two runs scored and an RBI while Hastings went 2-4 with two RBI. 

Minnesota State will return home Friday for a doubleheader with Northern State at 2:00 p.m., before wrapping up the regular season with two games at home vs Minnesota State University Moorhead Saturday with the possibility to play the game Sunday if weather makes the field unplayable.  First pitch time is to be determined at this time.